Finding Balance

A major challenge that is often overlooked in medical school is finding balance in your life. There are so many other things to worry about, that taking time for ourselves is often put on the back burner; especially if you want to be involved in extra curricular activities or volunteering. Personally, I am an active member of a couple of clubs (president of one), I blog, and I find time for myself through exercise, friends, family, and music. The only way that I am able to do all these things on top of school is by planning ahead and making schedules. What is even more important, however, is not getting stressed out if you fall behind in one area or another. For example, I might not be able to plan every event I would like to for my club, or meetings may run overtime and cut into my study schedule. You can try your best to stay on top of things, but falling behind is inevitable. The only thing you can do is focus on the task at hand instead of dwelling on the things you haven’t accomplished yet.

Joining clubs and being involved in activities outside of school is doable, but you have to remind yourself that school comes first. That means you are going to have to learn to say no. You can still be involved in clubs and community events without participating in everything. Keeping all that in mind, it is really important to be involved in non-medically related things. Whether that is an individual hobby or spending time with friends, you need that balance to be happy and refresh your mind to study hard to become a doctor.